Drawing with charcoal presents some special circumstances that have to be navigated in order to have a successful work of art. Charcoal can be dusty, and it smears really easily. To traverse this problem, the correct equipment will be necessary. Dust control will be a necessary component in rendering a successful drawing also. Because of these things, charcoal drawing is often a task reserved for more accomplished artist. The first consideration should be the type of paper that is best suited for drawing with charcoal. In today’s marketplace, there are several types that are specifically manufactured for use with charcoal. This paper can be expensive and in art, expense is always a consideration. To gain a better value when purchasing paper, the weight of the paper is important. Weight is classification to determine the sturdiness of the paper.
Higher weighted papers are used for charcoal, pastel and watercolors. This paper is weighted often 50 pounds or more. However, 50 pound paper is very suitable for charcoal drawing. The next consideration in this type of paper is the tooth or texture of the paper. With some forms of charcoal, a paper with very little texture or smooth paper can be suitable, but it is ideal to have paper with a moderate to rough tooth. This paper will hold the charcoal more readily and also provide a textured undertone that is often a desired aspect in charcoal drawing. Knowing the characteristics of suitable paper will allow the artist to purchase paper economically during sales and specials even when the paper is advertised as specialty paper.
Charcoal comes on several forms for drawing purposes. It can be bought as lump charcoal or more uniformed sizes, but charcoal is also available in pencil form. In addition, charcoal is sold in three separate categories and understanding the types and when to utilize them is fundamental. The three categories are hard mediums and soft. Hard charcoal produces a lighter line and is often used for roughed in or base drawings. Hard charcoal can also be used to shade light areas. Medium charcoal is also a shading tool and can be used to transition from hard to soft. Soft charcoal is the darkest form of charcoal and is often used for making dark lines or places that need the darkest tones.
Soft charcoal also has the least adhesion properties of all the types. This means that the soft charcoal produces the most dust. It should be used sparingly, and the dust should be cleaned from the drawing as soon as it is produced. A light vacuum or simply blowing the dust will remove it safely from the drawing. It is important to eradicate the dust from the drawing by blowing or vacuuming away from the parts of the drawing that are completed. Good erasers are also necessary and a light artists brush can also be useful. Always tape or otherwise affix the drawing to the drawing board before starting the project. After the drawing is finished, a workable fixative can be used to stop the drawing from smearing easily.
